Sliver-evening mechanism for drawing-frames.



' No. 884,442. I PAT-ENTED APR114, 1908.,

WESTGOTT F; W. POTTER, SLIVER EVENING MECHANISM FOR DRAWING FRAMES.

APPLI OATIOK FILED JULY 10. 1906.

3 SHEETS-BEEET 1.

' WITNESSES TERS cm, WASHINGTON, u. c I

v. s. WESTGOTT & F. W. POTTER. E SLIVER EVENING MECHANISM FOR DRAWING FRAMES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1906.

'3 SEEETSSHEET 2.

' PATENTED APR. 14, 1908.

W flh y By 24114 5554 THE Animus PETERS cm, wAsl-uuanu, n. c.

No. 884,442. PATENTED APR. 14, 1908.

V. S. WESTGOTT P. W. POTTER.

SLIVE-R EVENING MECHANISM FOR. DRAWING FRAMES.

APPLICATION FILED JUL? 10, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEioE VALORUS S. WESTCOTT, OF PAWTUOKET, AND FRANK W. POTTER, OF CENTRAL FALLS,

RHODE ISLAND.

' SLIVER-EVENING MECHANISM FOR DRAWING-FRAMES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 14, 1908.

Application filed July 10, 1906. Serial No. 325,446.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, VALoRUs S. WEsT- ooTT, a resident of Pawtucket, and FRANK W. POTTER, residing at Central Falls, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sliver-Evening Mechanism for Drawing-Frames, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

In our Reissued Patent N 0. 12,478, dated May 8, 1906, we describe a sliver evening device for drawing frames comprising as an essential feature a detector bearing directly upon the sliver and by its movements due to variations in the weight of the sliver controlling a variable speed motion to vary the rate of feed of the sliver.

The present invention relates to modifications of certain parts of the machine described in said patent and more particularly to the construction of the detector and of the variable speed motion, the general object being to increase the degree of sensitiveness of these elements whereby they are made to respond more readily to changes in the weight of the sliver.

Although the variable speed motion hereinafter described is capable of use in connection with any machine whose rate of speed is to be intermittently we have made practical application of it in a sliver evening device for drawing. frames and for the purposes of explanation have shown it in connection with a device of that character. We have, however, omitted the drawing rolls for the sake of clearness it not being necessary to illustrate them for the present purposes.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a drawing frame illustrating one embodiment of our invention; Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are detail views to illustrate the construction of the detectors and the manner of mounting them; Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the variable speed motion shown at the right hand end of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section on the plane of the line 66- of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a side view on an enlarged scale to illustrate the construction of the complemental wedge blocks; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the same partially in section, the latter being taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7 and Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the plane of the line 9-9 of Fig. 7.

changed automatically Similar reference letters indicate similar parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings the letter a indicates the power shaft mounted in bearings c and driven by any suitable means. On the end of said shaft is secured a friction disk 65 adapted to transmitits motion through a freely turning friction wheel 6 to an o positely disposed disk d, said latter disk being secured to a shaft a mounted in bearings c on standards fixed to the base m. The shaft a is yieldingly movable in a longitudinal direction by means of a spring 8 surrounding said shaft between a collar 8 adjustably secured thereto and a fixed thrust bearing 8 as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5. The speed of shaft a is substantially uniform and the arrangement of the disks (1 and (1 such that the driving and driven shafts a and a respectively revolve in the. same direction. The axes of the three revoluble friction members d, e and d are in the same horizontal plane.

On the inner end of shaft a is keyed a gear wheel f which meshes with a gear f. On the shaft of the latter is a gear-f which in turn meshes with a similar gear f on the shaft ofthe evener roll is, the latter being mounted in bearings secured to base m. As will be readily understood the speed ratio of the disk d to the driving disk d is governed by the relative position thereto of the friction wheel e, that is if the axis of the wheel e be moved toward the uniformly revolving driving shaft a the speed of disk d and consequently of shaft (1 will be decreased, and if it be moved in the opposite direction the speed of shaft a will be increased. This princlple of operation is utilized to change the speed of the back driven through the train of gears above referred to,- as well as that of the evener roll is upon any variation in the weight of the sliver from a normal, all as described in our said reissued patent. In order to automatically effect the desired movements of friction wheel e and consequently the desired variations in the feed of the slivers we employ a series of detectors which bear directly upon the slivers and which cooperate with the evener roll'k to confine the slivers on all sides at all times.

The detector forming invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 includrawing rolls which are part of our present sive and is constructed and operated as follows. Mounted in bearings in suitable standards is a shaft Z carrying at its outer end a gear Z which meshes with a gear is on the shaft of evener roll 70. Surrounding the shaft Z is a series of rollers Z and-surrounding the latter is a series of rollers Z The former are keyed on shaft Z by splines Z and the latter are keyed to the inner rollers Z by splines Z as indicated in Fig. 3. The thickness of the outer rollers Z is such that they fit into the grooves k of the evener roll 7c without binding upon the sidewalls thereof and their adjustment enables them when no sliver is passing to rest, upon the bottoms of said grooves.- The inside diameter of the rollers l is greater than the diameter of shaft Z so as to permit of a slight play between them. The inside diameter of rollers l is greater than the outside diameter of the inner rollers Z so as to permit of a play between the two sets of rollers, the slots for the splines Z and Z being cut accordingly. In practice the differences between the diameters above referred to is about one-eighth of an inch thus permitting a play in both directions of about one-sixteenth of an inch, the construction described affording what may be termed a floating detector the relative positions of the parts when a sliver of normal weight is passing through a given groove of the evener roll being substantially as indicated in Fig. 3, that is both rollers of each detector concentric with shaft Z. It will be observed that shaft Z and consequently the detector rollers are positively driven through the gears la and Z in an opposite direction to that of the evener roll 70, and preferably the speed of rotation of the detector rollers is substantially the same as that of the evener roll. The positive driving of the detector rollers adds to their sensitiveness in that the slivers are not called upon to overcome any mech anical resistance to their rotation. Suspended from the standard m is a vertically adjustable yoke m which carries a knife edge m serving as a fulcrum for a lever y which lever at its outer end is connected to mechanism which effects the shifting of the friction disk e. The long arm of lever y and the parts supported thereon are balanced by an adjustable weight m, the equilibrium of said lever being disturbed upon any variation of a sliver from a normal weight through the following means. Resting loosely upon each of the outer rollers l is a pair of small rollers Z carried upon a yoke secured to the lower end of a vertical rod 1. These rods are vertically guided in a fixed rail q and their upper ends form seats for the small knife edged saddles Z the latter in turn supporting a large saddle Z which is in engagement with the under side of lever y through an upright 1 Passing now to the variable speed motion which is controlled, as above stated, by the A vertically exten ripheral groove movements of lever y, the letter N designates a yoke mounted in bearings 0 and is capable of longitudinal movement therein. Said yoke lies in a horizontal plane with its longitudinal axis above and at substantially right angles to the corresponding axes of the shafts a and a. The yoke N comprises end rods 1% and n and an intermediate member n. To the rod N is secured a downwardly extending arm e carrying a stud upon which is mounted the friction wheel e, as indicated in Fig. 6. To the intermediate member n of yoke N is secured a block t by means of a pin i said block having an inclined or wedge face constituting the base of a channel formed by the projecting flanges k As shown in Fig. 9 the flanges k are formed with inwardly projecting walls h, the whole constituting a raceway adapted to receive anti-friction balls 4,. Transverse pins h prevent the balls 'i'escaping from the raceway.

Cooperating with block having a wedge face I) runnin parallel with the face I) of block 25. The lock it bears against the balls '5 and is guided in its movements between the flange k of the block t as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7. The block t is adjustably secured by suitable means to a rod 7" constituting a continuation of a rod 1, the said two rods bein connected by a swivel r ing bracket p is provided with a bearing p through which the rod 1" passes and by which it is guided in its vertical movements. The upper portion of rod 1" is screw-threaded and engaged by a nut '22, and the lower end of said rod which engages the swivel 1' (see Fig. 7) is provided with a per engaged by a pin T which serves to secure the parts together as will be readily understood. As thus arranged the screw-threaded rod 1" may be turned in either direction to position the nut '0 thereon, while the lower or block-holding rod 11 will remain relatively stationary or non-revoluble. The nut o carries two pins 4) which support the leverythe outer end of said lever being forked for that purpose.

To the outer end of yoke N weighted cord w which passes over a pulley 10 carried by a bracket w the function of which is to maintain the blocks t and t in frictional engagement with each other. Instead of aweight an equivalent spring may be employed. The bracket 19 carries a roller g which bears against the back of block t.

In order to centrally support the yoke N we provide a standard it having a forked head both members of which are slotted at 11/. These slots receive pins a extending t is a block t from opposite sides of block it and serve not only for the purpose stated but also to guide said block in its movements. The ends of rods 'n and n may bev squared to prevent any rotary movement of the yoke N.

The method of operation of the machine isattached a The blocks t and t 'e are very limited above described is as follows. One or more slivers as may be desired are led into the bight of the evener and detector rolls passing thence to the drawing and condensing rolls as well understood and as described in our reissued patent. In passing through the grooves k of the evener roll the slivers are confined at all times on all sides, that is between the bottom and side walls of said grooves and the detectors. The latter bear directly upon the slivers and respond i11- stantly to any variation in their weight from a normal. WVith a normal weight of sliver the detector rolls will assume the positions relatively to shaft 1 and to each other as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, that is the said parts will be concentric with each other. If now the weight of a given sliver runs above normal the corresponding detector will rise slightly thus raising the corresponding rod Z and through the system of compound levers described will raise the outer end of lever 1 On the other han should the sliver run below normal the detector will move downwardly and thus effect a lowering of the outer end of lever 31. These movements of lever y are transmitted to the rod 7" and block t. When said block is raised by an increase in the weight of the sliver it acts on the complemental block it moving the latter to the left, and through the described connections will shift friction wheel 6 toward the axis of the driving disk (1 thus effecting a corresponding decrease in the speed of rotation of disk (1 and through the train of gears f, f, f and f 3 will reduce the speed of the drawing and evener rolls and of the detector rolls. A movement of block t in a reverse direction, that is downwardly, when the sliver runs below normal will effect through wei ht w a movement of yoke N and consequent y of the friction wheel 6 to the right or toward the periphery of disk (1. This movement will increase the speed of rotation of the drawing and evener rolls and of the detector rolls. may properly be said to be complemental of each other in that a movement of the latter effects or permits of a movement of the former in a direction at right angles to the movement of block 25'.

As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the movements of friction disk and-that practical conditions deal with variations of a few grains er yard of sliver. Therefore, any mechanlsm which tends to increase of efficiency must lend itself primarily to detecting at once these slight variations in the weight of the sliver and the immediate readjustment of the working par-ts to remedy the defect. By the present invention the floating characteristic of the detector rolls Z and Z enables them to respond to the sli htest appreciable variation from a normal s iver weight. This advantageous feature is materially assisted by positively driving the detector rolls in that the only duty imposed upon the slivers is that of raising or permitting said rollers to descend. So also that feature relating to the complemental blocks 25 and It increases the sensitiveness of the machine and assists towards the quick response of the friction disk e to vary the speed of the rolls when a variation occurs in the Weight of a sliver, the practical results being that but one evening operation is required inasmuch as the sliver after passing the condenser rolls varies in weight per yard if at all within inconsequential limitsa Moreover, in the manufacture of coarse yarns the combing operation may be omitted and the slivers carried directly from the cards to the evening and drawing frame.

hat we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is z 1. In a sliver evening mechanism the combination of an evener roll and means to rotate the same, a shaft geared to said roll, a detector roll cooperating with the evener roll and bearing directly upon the sliver, said detector roll being keyed on said shaft so as to be capable of an eccentric movement relatively thereto when moved upon any variation in the weight of the sliver, and means actuated by said detector to vary the rate of feed of the sliver.

2. In a sliver evening mechanism the combination of an evener roll and means to rotate the same, a shaft geared to said roll, a detector cooperating with the evener roll and bearing directly upon the sliver said detector comprising an inner roll keyed to said shaft, an outer roll surrounding and keyed to the inner roll, the internal diameters of said rolls being such as to permit of an eccentric movement relatively to each other and to the shaft upon a variation in the weight of the sliver, and means actuated by said detector to vary the rate of feed of the sliver.

In a sliver evening mechanism the combination of an evener roll having a peripheral groove therein, a yielding detector seated within said groove and bearing directly upon the sliver thereby confining it on all sides, a shaft geared to the evener roll and upon which said detector is mounted, said detector consisting of an inner roll keyed to said shaft, an outer roll surrounding and keyed to the inner roll, the internal diameters of said rolls being such as to permit of an eccentric movement relatively to each other and to the shaft upon a variation in the weight of the sliver, and means actuated by said detector to vary the rate of feed of the sliver.

4. In a sliver evening mechanism the combination of an evener roll, means for rotating said roll, a detector adapted to be moved by variations in the weight of the sliver, mechanism to vary the speed of rotation of said roll comprising complemental wedge blocks so mounted as to move in directions at right angles to each other, and connections between said detector and one of said blocks whereby the movement of the detector controls the movements of said blocks to effect a variation in the rate of feed of the sliver. b

5. In a sliver evening mechanism the c'ombination of a detector adapted to be moved by variations in the weight of the sliver, and mechanism for varying the rate of feed of the sliver according to variations in its weight comprising driving and driven disks, a movable wheel in frictional engagement with said disks, a wedge-shaped member connected to said detector, and a complemental wedgeshaped member connected to said friction wheel, said members being movable one over the other by the movement of the detector to thereby vary the position of the friction wheel relatively to said disks.

6. In a sliver evening mechanism the com-- bination of a detector adapted to be moved by variations in the weight of the sliver, means for varying the rate of feed of the sliver according to variations in its weight comprising driving and driven disks, an interposed friction wheel in continuous engagement with said disks, eomplemental wedge-shaped members in engagement with and movable in directions at right angles to each other, and means connecting one of said members with the detector and the other with said friction wheel, whereby the movement of the detector will effect a movement of said wheel relatively to the disks.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto signed our names in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VALORUS S. WESTCOTT.

FRANK W. POTTER.

Witnesses: I

CHARLES H. HYDE, JOSEPH T. BRADLEY. 

